Chapter 172 - Sarasvatī Cursed

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: It was Sarasvatī in Kurukṣetra which was cursed in Mahābhārata, vide Mahābhārata, Śalya Parva ch. 42, 38-39 for the curse, or release from the curse Mahābhārata, Śalya 43.16. Here that episode is used in connection with Prācī Sarasvatī.

Sūta said:

1-3. Ever since then, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, Viśvāmitra stayed there looking for vulnerable points of Vasiṣṭha for the purpose of slaying him, thanks to the power, like a mosquito (would do) against an elephant.

On another day the river was summoned by Viśvāmitra. Immediately she assumed the form of a woman and appeared before him. With palms joined in reverence she said: “O saintly Brāhmaṇa, let the command be given as to the purpose for which I have been called now.”

Viśvāmitra said:

4. O great river, when he (Vasiṣṭha) plunges (while bathing) into your waters, bring him near me with great rapidity.

5. Let his ears be filled with waters. Let his limbs be shaken and exhausted. This will enable me to kill him. I don’t see any other vulnerable point.

6. On being told thus by Viśvāmitra, that river became frightened. She was afraid of his curse and spoke these words:

7-11. “I will not do anything atrocious in regard to Vasiṣṭha, the noble-souled one. Nor, O Brahmarṣi, is it proper on your part to kill a Brāhmaṇa.

If you have been called a Brahmarṣi by Brahmā himself and it does not please Vasiṣṭha to do so, what is the harm? Hence give up your anger.

If someone even thinks of killing a Brāhmaṇa he can be rid of the sin by the rite of Taptakṛcchra. So says Manu, the son of the Self-born Lord.

The Lord has said that if a man says that he will kill a Brāhmaṇa, his purity can be brought about by Cāndrāyaṇa rite.

Hence, I will not carry out your bidding concerning Vasiṣṭha. You may do whatever you like.”

12. On hearing it, O Brāhmaṇas, Viśvāmitra got angry. He cursed that excellent river. I shall tell you. Let it be heard what that curse is:

13. “O sinful bad river, since my behest has not been carried out, your watery stream shall become bloody.”

14. After saying this with eyes turned red due to anger, he took some water in his hand. He charged it with Mantra seven times and poured it down into the water of the river.

15. Thereupon, the highly meritorious water of River Sarasvatī which was formerly white like a conch, turned into blood that very moment.

16. In the meantime, ghosts, goblins and night-stalkers came there. Drinking the blood they began to laugh, sing and dance about.

17. A few sages who had settled on her banks abandoned her in a body and went to some far-off land.

18. Caṇḍaśarman and others, the Nāgaras, who had settled there as external residents, went away.

19. Vasiṣṭha, the excellent sage, went to Arbuda (Abu) mountain. Viśvāmitra, the Brāhmaṇ-sage went to Camatkārapura.

20. There was a spot abounding in Brāhmaṇas at Hāṭakeśvara Kṣetra. He built a hermitage there and performed a severe penance.

21-22. Thereby Viśvāmitra became capable of creating the world and (could) compete with god Brahmā (in the matter of world creation).

Thus everything has been narrated to you as to how the waters of Sarasvatī turned into blood as a result of the curse of Viśvāmitra and how Caṇḍaśarman and other Brāhmaṇas went a way to other lands.